Inner Line Permit issue disrupts Meghalaya assembly

The opening day of the autumn session of the Meghalaya assembly Friday saw the opposition Meghalaya People's Forum (MPF) staging a walk out after the rejection of their adjournment motion on the Inner Line Permit (ILP).

As soon as the house assembled, the MPF moved an adjournment motion to discuss the ILP issue and the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, in view of the ongoing agitation called by ten pressure groups demanding the implementation of the entry permit in Meghalaya to check influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

However, assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal rejected the adjournment motion saying that a similar resolution and a question, tabled by members of the opposition, had already been admitted and opportunity will be given to the members for discussion.

"As per the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Meghalaya assembly, the adjournment motion cannot be admitted if a similar motion or resolution is admitted previously, which will be taken up for consideration within the current session," Mondal said.

But the opposition members, led by Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy, approached the speaker's dais demanding that the adjournment motion be allowed in the backdrop of the prevailing law and order situation.

"The adjournment motion is meant to discuss an issue of public importance and not to force the government to bow down to pressure groups or the opposition," Roy said, insisting that the speaker admit the adjournment motion.

Mondal was forced to adjourn the house for 15 minutes as the opposition members disrupted proceedings by thumping on tables and chanting slogans.

When the house reassembled, the opposition MPF members, joined by other opposition members, including the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), again went up to the speaker's dais to press their demand.

"All eyes are on us. The house should not be divided if we are really concerned about the tribal people," HSPDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and some ministers, who had to present reports and lay before the house amendments to certain bills, had to raise their voice while doing so amid continued sloganeering by the opposition members.

Seeing the speaker remaining unmoved, the opposition members staged a walk out.